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First Edition: March 26, 2010

Today's early morning highlights includes reports on congressional passage of the final piece of the health overhaul legislation, President Barack Obama's trip to Iowa to tout the law's benefits and some concerns raised by big business.

26 Mar 2010

Researcher extracts natural scaffold for tissue growth

It frequently happens in science that what you throw away turns out to be most valuable. It happened to Deepak Nagrath, but not for long.

26 Mar 2010

Widely-used screening scale misidentifies borderline personality disorder as bipolar disorder

A study from Rhode Island Hospital has shown that a widely-used screening tool for bipolar disorder may incorrectly indicate borderline personality disorder rather than bipolar disorder.

26 Mar 2010

EVMS researchers awarded $1,076,250 grant to develop functional cure for Type 1 diabetes

Researchers at the Eastern Virginia Medical School Strelitz Diabetes Center have been awarded a $1,076,250 grant by the Department of Defense Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program to develop new ways of reversing the underlying causes of Type 1 diabetes.

26 Mar 2010

Internet cannot substitute for professional medical advice

The Internet has had a profound effect on clinical practice by providing both physicians and patients with a wealth of information. But with those rewards come risks of incorrect or poorly interpreted information that require that a doctor "never be optional."

25 Mar 2010

60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity needed to maintain normal weight: Study

Among women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain over 13 years only among women of normal weight, according to a study in the March 24/31 issue of JAMA. The researchers also found that women successful in maintaining normal weight averaged approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity throughout the study.

24 Mar 2010

60 minutes of moderate exercise can keep your scales happy, says research

With age most women consuming a normal diet may tend to gain weight. New reports however suggest that a mere 60 minutes exercise per day can keep middle aged weight gain in women at bay.

24 Mar 2010

Analgesics can decrease risk of breast or ovarian cancer

Postmenopausal women who regularly use aspirin and other analgesics (known as painkillers) have lower estrogen levels, which could contribute to a decreased risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

24 Mar 2010

GENETICS 2010 meeting highlights latest research on human genetic disorders

The Genetics Society of America (GSA) biennial meeting, "GENETICS 2010: Model Organisms to Human Biology," June 12-15, 2010, at the Sheraton Boston, Massachusetts, will bring together investigators who study genetic models in organisms such as flies, yeast, fungi, mice and other non-human organisms, with researchers in human genetics

24 Mar 2010

Renowned leaders to discuss latest findings in early-stage drug development for cancer

When people think of cancer treatment, chemotherapy infusions, injections and pills often come to mind. These treatments result from extensive research and testing in drug development. But how does the process begin?

24 Mar 2010

iHealthCast.com launched to allow patients consult with doctors from home

Most people want better access to health care for themselves and their family, however a major obstacle in achieving this is the time and hassle involved in seeing a doctor. Many find the whole process discouraging.

23 Mar 2010

Study: Replacing dietary saturated fats with polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces coronary heart disease

A study in this week's PLoS Medicine shows that the replacement of dietary saturated fatty acids with polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces coronary heart disease events, bringing much needed scientific evidence to an issue debated by experts and clinical guidelines.

23 Mar 2010

University Physicians & Surgeons select McKesson for managing medical billing and practice management processes

University Physicians & Surgeons, Inc., the faculty practice of Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has chosen McKesson to manage its medical billing and practice management processes, citing McKesson’s market longevity and reputation for excellence as deciding factors in its choice.

23 Mar 2010

New understanding of cell in immune system may guide creation of effective flu vaccines: Study

A new understanding of a certain cell in the immune system may help guide scientists in creating better flu vaccines, report researchers from the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Immune Disease Institute at Children's Hospital Boston.

23 Mar 2010

No significant racial differences in cancer patient mortality rates: Study

A new study has found that when African American and white cancer patients are treated at similar, specialized cancer care institutions, mortality rates are roughly equal. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that where patients receive care may partly explain observed racial disparities in cancer mortality.

22 Mar 2010

Investigation on spread of illegal drug use in social networks

Recent studies have shown that behaviors such as happiness, obesity, smoking and altruism are "contagious" within adult social networks. In other words, your behavior not only influences your friends, but also their friends and so on.

20 Mar 2010

Turning microRNAs into novel drugs

Researchers around the globe are working on turning microRNAs, over 5,000 of which already have been identified, into novel drugs for a wide range of applications, reports Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN). These noncoding single-stranded RNAs act through binding to complementary mRNA sequences, thus preventing their translation into protein or accelerating mRNA breakdown, according to the March 15 issue of GEN.

20 Mar 2010

Winner of 2010 European Magnetic Resonance Award

Dr John Griffiths, a Cancer Research UK-funded scientist, has received the 2010 European Magnetic Resonance Award for Basic Sciences.

20 Mar 2010

Enrollment in internal medicine residency program remains stagnant

The number of U.S. medical students choosing internal medicine residencies inched higher from 2009 but not enough to significantly impact the shortage of primary care physicians.

19 Mar 2010

Working rotating shifts may increase risk of developing IBS and abdominal pain

Nurses participating in shift work, especially those working rotating shifts, face a significantly increased risk of developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and abdominal pain compared to those working a standard day-time schedule, according to research published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

19 Mar 2010